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{{Short description|American skepticism activist}}
{{COI|date=March 2021}}
{{BLP primary sources|date=October 2020}}
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{{Short description|American skeptical activist}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Susan Gerbic
| name = Susan Gerbic
| image = Susan Gerbic Aug 2016.jpg
| image = Gerbic at SJC.jpg
| alt = Head shot of Gerbic smiling with a black background.
| alt = Head shot of Gerbic
| caption = Gerbic in 2016
| caption = Gerbic in April 2015
| image_size = 270px
| birth_date = 1962{{R|californian}}
| birth_date = 1962
| birth_place = [[Salinas, California]]
| birth_place = [[Salinas, California]]
| nationality = American
| nationality = American
| education = BA Social & Behavioral Studies
| education = BA Social & Behavioral Studies (2002)
<!--| occupation = Portrait Studio Manager,{{R|californian}}
| alma_mater = [[California State University, Monterey Bay]]
| occupation = [[Photographic studio|Studio photographer]]
| years_active = 1982–2016
| employer = [[Lifetouch]] Portrait Studios --><!-- "Occupation(s) as given in the lead." Maybe change to skepticism? Use organization for the orgs she's with. -->
| employer = [[Lifetouch]] Portrait Studios (1982–2016)
| known_for = {{hlist|Scientific skeptic activism|Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia}}
| known_for = [[Scientific skepticism]]
| website = {{URL|https://abouttimeproject.wordpress.com}}
| website = {{URL|https://abouttimeproject.wordpress.com}}
| module = {{Listen
| module = {{Listen
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| type = speech
| type = speech
| description = Recorded in May 2015
| description = Recorded in May 2015
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}}
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'''Susan Gerbic''' (born 1962) is an American [[Photographic studio|studio photographer]] who became known as a [[scientific skepticism]] activist, mostly for exposing people claiming to be [[Mediumship|medium]]s.<ref name=Northstrand2014/><ref name=Matsakis2018>{{cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/story/guerrilla-wikipedia-editors-who-combat-conspiracy-theories/|title=The 'Guerrilla' Wikipedia Editors Who Combat Conspiracy Theories|last=Matsakis|first=Louise|date=July 25, 2018|work=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725171352/https://www.wired.com/story/guerrilla-wikipedia-editors-who-combat-conspiracy-theories/ |archive-date=25 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=NYT2019/> A columnist for ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]'',<ref>[https://skepticalinquirer.org/authors/susan-gerbic/ "Author: Susan Gerbic"]. ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]''.</ref> she is the co-founder of Monterey County Skeptics<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.meetup.com/Monterey-County-Skeptics/members/?op=leaders|title=Monterey County Skeptics|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102163608/https://www.meetup.com/Monterey-County-Skeptics/members/?op=leaders|website=meetup.com |archive-date=January 2, 2015|url-status=live}}{{pb}}{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Dennis L. |title=Skeptics take on God, psychics, even science |url=https://www.montereyherald.com/2015/01/03/skeptics-take-on-god-psychics-even-science/ |work=[[Monterey Herald]] |date=January 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611061358/https://www.montereyherald.com/2015/01/03/skeptics-take-on-god-psychics-even-science/ |archive-date=June 11, 2019}}</ref> and a fellow of the [[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]].<ref name=csifellow/>
}}
'''Susan Marie Gerbic''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|ɜːr|b|ɪ|k}} {{Respell|GUR|bik}}){{R|GSOW1}} is an American [[scientific skepticism|skeptical activist]].{{R|californian}} Gerbic is the co-founder of Monterey County Skeptics,{{R|mcsmeetup}} founder and leader of the Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia (GSoW) project,{{R|csicop395}} a regular contributor to ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]'',{{R|Articles }} ''[[The Skeptic Zone|The Skeptic Zone podcast]]'',{{R|SZ3}} and a [[fellow]] of the [[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]].{{R|csifellow}} Gerbic has focused much of her skeptical activism on people claiming to be [[clairvoyant]] [[Mediumship|mediums]], such as [[Sylvia Browne]], [[Tyler Henry]], and [[Thomas John Flanagan|Thomas John]], whom she calls "grief vampires".{{R|GVs}}
{{toclimit|limit=4}} <!-- This code controls max depth of TOC.-->


== Skeptical activism ==
== Early life and education ==
The youngest of three children, Gerbic was raised as a [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist]] in [[Salinas, California]].<ref name=Hale2018/> Her father was born in 1918 in [[Euclid, Ohio]], to parents from [[Slovenia]]; he served during [[World War II]] and after the war went to live in Salinas.<ref name=Gerbic2March2018/> Gerbic attended Freemont Elementary, El Sausal Junior High School,<ref name=Gerbicvoice>[[:File:Susan Gerbic Voice.ogg|School details]]. Susan Gerbic Voice.ogg.</ref> and [[Alisal High School]] in Salinas, graduating in 1980.<ref name=Northstrand2014>{{cite news|last=Nordstrand|first=Dave|title=Staying on the job during cancer treatment|url=http://www.thecalifornian.com/story/life/2014/07/05/staying-job-cancer-treatment/12202333/|work=[[The Salinas Californian]]|date=July 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830002956/http://www.thecalifornian.com/story/life/2014/07/05/staying-job-cancer-treatment/12202333/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=|archive-date=August 30, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> She became an atheist in her junior year. After high school, she studied at [[Hartnell College]], also in Salinas,<ref name=Hale2018/> obtaining [[Associate degree#United States|AA]]s in general studies in 1993 and history in 1998,<ref name=Gerbicvoice/> while working and raising two sons. In 2002, she was awarded a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] in Social & Behavioral Studies by [[California State University, Monterey Bay]].<ref name=Hale2018>{{cite web|url=https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2018/08/23/the-enthusiastic-life-of-a-happy-skeptic/|title=The enthusiastic life of a happy skeptic|last1=Hale|first1=Mike|website=Voices of Monterey Bay|date=August 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829023341/https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2018/08/23/the-enthusiastic-life-of-a-happy-skeptic/|archive-date=29 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
Gerbic was raised in [[Salinas, California]], as a [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist]]. Her interest in [[paranormal]] and fringe topics began when she was frightened by reports of [[spontaneous human combustion]], "the idea that you could be walking down the street and suddenly, boom!"{{R|"2nd bday"}} Her religious upbringing was challenged in her late teens, Gerbic told ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]'' editor [[Benjamin Radford]], when she first encountered the term "[[atheist]]": during her junior year at [[Alisal High School]], thanks to her home-room teacher Mr. Borman. "I noticed one day that he never said the ‘under God’ part in the [[Pledge of Allegiance]]," she said. "I asked him why, and he said it was because he was an atheist. I had never even heard that word before."{{R|Happy}} Once she found out there were other people who felt the way she did, she read everything she could on the subject.{{R|Radford}} In 1996, ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]'' magazine was pivotal in her transformation into a [[scientific skeptic]].{{CN|date=February 2021}}


==Career and activism==
In 2000, Gerbic attended her first conference, the [[Skeptic's Toolbox]] in Eugene, Oregon.{{R|Radford}} Gerbic started editing for Wikipedia after experiences with three "Amazing Adventure" cruises put on by the [[James Randi Educational Foundation]] and several of [[The Amaz!ng Meeting]]s. She wanted to do something more proactive, so she turned her attention to editing Wikipedia.{{R|skeptchal}}{{R|Pinter}} Her first contribution was a photo of [[Brian Dunning (author)|Brian Dunning]] of the Skeptoid podcast.{{CN|date=February 2021}}
===Photography===
Gerbic worked at Lifetouch, a portrait studio in [[JC Penney]] in the [[Northridge Mall]] in Salinas, from 1982<ref name=Northstrand2014/> for 34 years, including as manager.<ref name=Hale2018/> In May 2015, she said she was taking around 70,000 professional photographs of people, mostly children, every year, and about another 5,000 photographs with her own camera.<ref name=Gerbicvoice/> She retired in 2016 when the studio closed.<ref name=Hale2018/>


===Guerrilla Skeptics===
Her work in founding and running the GSoW made her an influential member of the skeptical community, leading to her becoming a consultant for the [[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]].{{R|Ten}} In February 2018, the [[Center For Inquiry]] appointed her a [[fellow]].{{R|csifellow}}
[[File:JREFGerbicTAMaward.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Gerbic, with [[D. J. Grothe]] (left) and [[James Randi]] (right), receives the James Randi Award for Skepticism in the Public Interest at [[The Amazing Meeting]], July 2013.]]
Gerbic first read ''Skeptical Inquirer'' when she was 33,{{R|Hale2018}} and in 2000, she attended the [[Skeptic's Toolbox]] workshop in Eugene, Oregon.<ref name=Radford>{{cite journal|last1=Radford|first1=Ben|author-link=Benjamin Radford|title=Skepticism One Wikipage at a Time: Talking with Wikiskeptic Susan Gerbic-Forsyth|journal=[[Skeptical Inquirer]]|date=March 2012|volume=36|issue=2|pages=32–33|url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/2012/03/skepticism_one_wikipage_at_a_time_talking_with_wikiskeptic_susan_gerbic_forsyth/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119071101/https://skepticalinquirer.org/2012/03/skepticism_one_wikipage_at_a_time_talking_with_wikiskeptic_susan_gerbic_forsyth/|archive-date=January 19, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009, she went to Mexico on an "Amazing Adventure" cruise organized by the Canadian stage magician and skeptic [[James Randi]]; according to the ''New York Times'', Randi used a [[MacArthur Fellows Program|MacArthur grant]] to fund "annual ship cruises filled with skeptics".<ref name=NYT2019/>


Much of Gerbic's activism has consisted of organizing [[sting operation]]s against people claiming to be mediums. She and a group of volunteers calling themselves "Guerrilla Skeptics" would set up fake Facebook profiles, then visit mediums claiming to be receiving messages from the subjects of the profiles. Gerbic's team would record the session and post the evidence online.<ref name=NYT2019>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/26/magazine/psychics-skeptics-facebook.html|title=Inside the Secret Sting Operations to Expose Celebrity Psychics|last=Hitt|first=Jack|date=February 26, 2019|work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226133658/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/26/magazine/psychics-skeptics-facebook.html|archive-date=February 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Anchor|GSoW}} <!-- Do not delete this code as it is used to link to this location from other articles. Rp2006-->


In 2010, Gerbic founded "Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia" (GSoW),<ref name="Wikapediatrican CSICOP">{{cite web|last1=Gerbic|first1=Susan|title=Wikapediatrician Susan Gerbic discusses her Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia project|url=http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/wikapediatrician_susan_gerbic_discusses_her_guerrilla_skepticism_on_wikiped|work=[[Skeptical Inquirer]] |date=March 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830023844/http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/wikapediatrician_susan_gerbic_discusses_her_guerrilla_skepticism_on_wikiped|archive-date=August 30, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> a group of editors who create and improve Wikipedia articles that reflect [[Skeptical movement|scientific skepticism]].{{Anchor|GSoW}}<!-- Do not delete this code as it is used to link to this location from other articles. Rp2006--><ref name=Hale2018/><ref name=Plait2018>Plait, Phil (May 23, 2013). [https://slate.com/technology/2013/05/bad-astronomy-book-featured-on-the-front-page-of-wikipedia.html "'Bad Astronomy' on the Front Page of Wikipedia Today. Literally"]. ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''.</ref> ''[[The New York Times Magazine]]'' reported in February 2019, in an interview with Gerbic, that GSoW had 144 editors who had worked on nearly 900 Wikipedia pages.<ref name=NYT2019/> Gerbic's work with GSoW led to her becoming a consultant for the [[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]] (CSI),<ref name=Ten2015>{{cite journal | url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/ten_distinguished_scientists_and_scholars_named_fellows_of_committee_for_sk | title=Ten Distinguished Scientists and Scholars Named Fellows of Committee for Skeptical Inquiry | work=[[Skeptical Inquirer]] | volume=39|issue=6|date=2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016122711/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/ten_distinguished_scientists_and_scholars_named_fellows_of_committee_for_sk | archive-date=October 16, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and in February 2018, they appointed her as a fellow.<ref name=csifellow/>
=== Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia ===
Gerbic is the founder and leader of "Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia" (GSoW), an organization dedicated to improving the content on Wikipedia by improving and creating articles that reflect the ideals of scientific [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalism]] and [[Skeptical movement|scientific skepticism]].{{R|Happy}}


===Conferences===
Gerbic and [[Mark Edward]] came up with the name "Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia" (GSoW) to describe skeptical activism that is "more underground, more grass-roots, more mole-like".{{R|TAM9}}{{rp|(0:02:00)}} The idea for an organized effort came from [[Tim Farley]] after Gerbic was frustrated by typical [[Wikipedia:WikiProject|WikiProjects]], finding them either dormant or not user-friendly, especially for new editors. Instead, she started communicating and training other Wikipedia editors directly on Facebook or using email.{{R|prism}} She stated that the formal beginning of GSoW is May 2010,{{R|"Wikapediatrican CSICOP"}} yet its birthday is celebrated in June.{{R|"2nd bday"}}{{R|Third}}
In October 2015, Gerbic conducted a series of workshops in Australia and spoke at the [[Australian Skeptics#National Conventions|Australian Skeptics' Convention]].
[[File:Susan Gerbic European Skeptics Congress 2017.webm|thumb|300px|Susan Gerbic speaks about Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia during the 17th [[European Skeptics Congress]] in [[Wrocław]], [[Poland]].]]
<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gerbic |first1=Susan |title=The Wikipediatrician’s Whirlwind Australian Tour |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/the-wikipediatricians-whirlwind-australian-tour/ |work=[[Skeptical Inquirer]] |date=January 11, 2016}}{{pb}}
Interest in the project grew after Gerbic made presentations at SkeptiCalcon, did a Sunday paper presentation at The Amaz!ng Meeting{{R|TAM9}}, and also created a blog on the subject.{{R|tamers}} In an interview with [[Richard Saunders (skeptic)|Richard Saunders]], she states that this kind of project is "a perfect storm, we would never have been able to do this without [the Internet]".{{R|skepticzone}}
{{cite web|title=2015 Skeptics Convention – Schmidt, Gerbic, Nickell|url=http://www.skeptics.com.au/2015/03/01/2015-skeptics-convention-schmidt-gerbic-nickell/|publisher=Australian Skeptics Inc.|date=1 March 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229035921/http://www.skeptics.com.au/2015/03/01/2015-skeptics-convention-schmidt-gerbic-nickell/|archive-date=February 29, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> To promote [[CSICon]], she interviewed scheduled speakers in 2016 and 2017 in advance of the conferences, including [[James Alcock]], [[Taner Edis]], [[Kevin Folta]], [[Craig Foster]], [[Harriet Hall]], [[Britt Hermes]], [[George Hrab]], [[Maria Konnikova]], and [[Richard Saunders (skeptic)|Richard Saunders]].<ref name=InterviewArticles>{{cite web|title=Special Articles&nbsp;– CSICon|url=https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/archive/category/csicon|publisher=The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119144556/https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/archive/category/csicon|archive-date=19 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> In September and October 2017, she lectured in several European countries on her "About Time Tour";<ref>Gerbic, Susan (February 8, 2018). [https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/skeptical-adventures-in-europe-part-1/ "Skeptical Adventures in Europe, Part 1"]. ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]''.{{pb}}
Gerbic, Susan (February 9, 2018). [https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/skeptical-adventures-in-europe-part-2/"Skeptical Adventures in Europe, Part 2"]. ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]''.{{pb}}
Gerbic, Susan (February 16, 2018). [https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/skeptical-adventures-in-europe-part-3/ "Skeptical Adventures in Europe, Part 3"]. ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]''.{{pb}}
Gerbic, Susan (February 20, 2018). [https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/skeptical-adventures-in-europe-part-4/ "Skeptical Adventures in Europe, Part 4"]. ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]''.</ref><ref name=Gerbic2March2018>Gerbic, Susan (March 2, 2018). [https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/skeptical-adventures-in-europe-part-5/ "Skeptical Adventures in Europe, Part 5"]. ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]''.</ref> in October, she was a guest on [[Bloomberg Television|Bloomberg TV Bulgaria]].<ref name=BTV>{{cite web|last1=Ayvaz|first1=Hulia |title=Can We Trust Wikipedia?|url=http://www.bloombergtv.bg/v-razvitie/2017-10-06/mozhem-li-da-se-doverim-na-wikipedia|publisher=Bloomberg TV Bulgaria|date=6 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006161355/http://www.bloombergtv.bg/v-razvitie/2017-10-06/mozhem-li-da-se-doverim-na-wikipedia|archive-date=6 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> She spoke about GSoW at CSICon in Las Vegas that year.<ref name=2017Schedule>{{cite web|title=Schedule|url=https://new.centerforinquiry.net/conferences/csicon/schedule.html|publisher=CSICon|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171121080104/https://new.centerforinquiry.net/conferences/csicon/schedule.html|archive-date=November 21, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the Australian Skeptic's Convention in December 2019, she spoke about her interactions with mediums, including [[Thomas John Flanagan|Thomas John]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://skepticon.org.au/speakers-schedule/|title=Speaker Schedule|access-date=2019-12-10}}</ref>


=== Awards and honors ===
Gerbic spends much of her time training the new members of the expanding team to perform basic tasks required to effectively edit the encyclopedia, tackling topics as diverse as Scientology, UFOs, and vaccines.{{R|prism}} Since its inception, the GSoW team has grown, with ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' reporting in July 2018 that the project had more than 120 international editors.{{R|Matsakis}}
* "In the Trenches" award at the [[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]]'s 2012 [[Skeptic's Toolbox]] workshop<ref name=TAM2015/>
* "James Randi Award for Skepticism in the Public Interest" at [[The Amazing Meeting|The Amaz!ng Meeting]] 2013<ref name=TAM2015>[https://www.amazingmeeting.com/ "The Amaz!ng Meeting 2015: Susan Gerbic"]. TAM13.</ref>
* 2017 Award from [[James Randi Educational Foundation]] (shared with "her team of 'guerrilla skeptics'")<ref>{{cite web|title=2017 JREF Award|url=https://web.randi.org/home/2017-jref-award|website=James Randi Educational Foundation|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328102358/https://web.randi.org/home/2017-jref-award|archive-date=March 28, 2018}}</ref>
* Appointed [[fellow]] of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, February 2018<ref name=csifellow>{{Cite web|url=https://centerforinquiry.org/news/committee-for-skeptical-inquiry-elects-six-new-fellows/|title=Committee for Skeptical Inquiry Elects Six New Fellows |publisher=[[Center for Inquiry]] |date=February 7, 2018}}</ref>


== Personal life ==
Members of GSoW are encouraged to identify noteworthy skeptical or science articles in the general media that could serve as significant references, and then cite these in any applicable Wikipedia pages. Gerbic calls such edits "backwards editing", which is the reverse of the more typical process where an editor will work on a single Wikipedia article, enhancing it with references from many sources.{{R|skeptchal}}{{R|messianicdrew}} GSoW editors seek out skepticism-related articles that are in need of improvement by the addition of references from popular writing, podcast, and other citations. They will share research and otherwise collaborate amongst the team. Sometimes they will directly interview notable persons to improve the citations and resources.{{R|skeptchal}} Gerbic used the example of psychic [[Sylvia Browne]]'s Wikipedia page during the Amaz!ng Meeting lecture, suggesting that people looking for information might prefer Wikipedia as a neutral, virus free, user-friendly site. She calls this the [[The Story of the Three Bears|Goldilocks]] effect.{{R|TAM9}}
[[File:Last Chemo Today.JPG|thumb|Gerbic in December 2013]]
Gerbic married Robert Forsyth in 1983.<ref>"Marriages". ''The Californian''. 3 November 1983, p.&nbsp;15.</ref> The couple had two sons, and the marriage ended in 2002. As of August 2018, Gerbic was in a relationship with the [[Mentalism|mentalist]] [[Mark Edward]].<ref name=Hale2018/> They met in 2009 on one of James Randi's skeptics' cruises to Mexico; Edward was working on the ship as part of the entertainment.<ref name=NYT2019/>


In 2013, Gerbic discovered she had [[breast cancer]] after she and a colleague at Lifetouch studios scheduled [[mammogram]]s in response to [[Angelina Jolie]] undergoing a [[preventive mastectomy]].<ref name=Norstrand2014>Norstrand, Dave (July 5, 2014). "Working during cancer treatments". ''The Californian'', pp.&nbsp;1C, 8C.</ref> By December that year, Gerbic had completed 20 weeks of [[chemotherapy]] for stage II cancer and, by March 2014, 33 [[Radiation therapy|radiation treatment]]s.<ref name=Saunders2014>{{cite web|url=http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-274-17-jan-2014 |title=An interview with Susan Gerbic |last1=Saunders|first1=Richard|author-link1=Richard Saunders (skeptic)|date=January 17, 2014|work=[[The Skeptic Zone]] podcast|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830030638/http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-274-17-jan-2014|archive-date=August 30, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Wearing a series of funny hats to hide her hair loss, she carried on working throughout the treatment, and her follow-up mammogram was clear. She said the experience had made her tougher.<ref name=Norstrand2014/>
Gerbic states that the "We Got Your Wiki Back Project!" is a popular GSoW sub-project. The project's goal is to improve the Wikipedia pages of skeptical spokespeople, especially when they are in the media's eye and their Wikipedia page views tend to spike.{{R|"Wikapediatrican CSICOP"}} The intention is that people should find great, reliable information on Wikipedia.{{R|"Data Skeptic"}}


<gallery>
In August 2012 Gerbic began recruiting and training multilingual editors. Beginning with the "Lets Start with Jerry" project, all teams were asked to translate the English [[Jerry Andrus]] Wikipedia page into as many languages as possible. Arabic, Afrikaans, Dutch, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Portuguese articles were completed under her guidance.{{R|"Wikapediatrican CSICOP"}}
File:James Randi on JREF Gerbic prize 2017.webm|[[James Randi]] announcing Gerbic has won the [[James Randi Educational Foundation|JREF]] prize for 2017

File:Susan Gerbic European Skeptics Congress 2017.webm|Gerbic speaking about GSoW, 17th [[European Skeptics Congress]], [[Wrocław]], [[Poland]]
In late 2017 Gerbic toured Europe with the "About Time Tour" and spoke at many skeptical activist gatherings.{{R|escepticos}}{{R|theesp}} During this tour, she was a guest on [[Bloomberg Television|Bloomberg TV]] Bulgaria, and the interview was documented in an October 6 article, "Can we trust Wikipedia?"{{R|BTV}}
File:SusanGerbicAtQEDcon2014-1.jpg|Gerbic (second left) at [[QED (conference)|QEDcon 2014]] with [[Michael Marshall (skeptic)|Michael Marshall]], Eran Segev and Samantha Stein

</gallery>
Gerbic was a featured speaker at [[CSICon]] in 2017 where she presented "Beyond the Choir: The Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia Project (GSoW)" which focused on recruiting for the GSoW team.{{R|2017Schedule}}
{{Clear}}

=== Psychic activism ===
Gerbic focuses much of her skeptical activism on [[clairvoyant]] [[Mediumship|mediums]], who she calls grief vampires because they prey on desperate families that would do anything to talk to their loved ones or pay anything to find their missing child.{{R|GVs}} Gerbic credits skeptic [[Robert S. Lancaster]] for being "super influential to my 'career' in the skepticism community" as well as specifically sparking her interest in exposing mediums as frauds."{{R|Lancaster}}

In an online 2018 ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]'' article, Gerbic summarizes common techniques which psychics use to achieve their effects, ranging from taking advantage of how the human brain processes information, to using [[cold reading]] and [[hot reading]] techniques.{{R|TenTricks}} According to [[Maynard (broadcaster)|Maynard]], Gerbic's undercover operations "put [[Scientific skepticism|skepticism]] back on the map".<ref name=SZP-541>{{cite web | authorlink= Richard Saunders (skeptic) |last1=Saunders |first1=Richard |title=The Skeptic Zone #541 |url=https://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-541-3march2019 |website=The Skeptic Zone Podcast |publisher=The Skeptic Zone Podcast |access-date=23 December 2020}}</ref>

=== Conference promotion ===
[[File:SusanGerbicAtQEDcon2014-1.jpg|thumb|Susan Gerbic at [[QED (conference)|QEDcon 2014]] with [[Michael Marshall (skeptic)|Michael Marshall]], [[Australian Skeptics|Eran Segev]] and [[Camp Quest UK|Samantha Stein]]]]
The topic of skeptical conference attendance received much attention on Gerbic's bi-weekly segments on the Skeptic Society's ''[[Skepticality]]'' podcast.{{R|"CFI Summit"}} In her November 2014 article for ''Skeptical Inquirer'' about the [[Skeptic's Toolbox]], she describes the annual conference held in [[Eugene, Oregon]], and discussed the importance of conference attendance, stating "we know our best asset is our people."{{R|sgr14st}}

In October 2015, Gerbic conducted a series of workshops in Australia, culminating with her appearance as a guest speaker at the [[Australian Skeptics#National Conventions|Australian Skeptics' Convention]].{{R|skeptics-convention}}

In 2016 and 2017, to promote both [[CSICon]] events, Gerbic interviewed many of the scheduled speakers in advance of those conferences. These interviews, which were published by the [[Center for Inquiry]], included Bob Novella, [[Maria Konnikova]], Sheldon W. Helms, Evan Bernstein, Kavin Senapathy, [[James Alcock]], Robert Brotherton, [[Richard Saunders (skeptic)|Richard Saunders]], [[Kevin Folta]], Natalie Newell (producer/director of ''[[Science Moms]]''), Kenny Biddle, [[Taner Edis]], [[Britt Hermes]], [[Mark Edward]], [[Craig Foster]], [[Harriet Hall]], and conference MC [[George Hrab]].{{R|InterviewArticles}}

In December 2019, She was also a speaker at the [[Australian Skeptics#National Conventions|Australian Skeptic's Convention]], where she spoke about her [[Sting operation|stings]] on [[Thomas John Flanagan|Thomas John]] and some other psychic mediums. The talk itself was called "Grief Vampires".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://skepticon.org.au/speakers-schedule/|title=Speaker Schedule|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-10}}</ref>

==Reaction==
Gerbic's [[skeptical movement|skeptical activism]] work has drawn criticism from [[alternative medicine]] and [[paranormal]] claim proponents.{{R|"Coyne 2014"}}

In an interview with [[Tim Farley]] about the Wikipedia controversy with [[Deepak Chopra]] and [[Rupert Sheldrake]], Gerbic stated that she understands the frustration that public figures must have over articles that change without their control, but that accusations of canvasing to recruit and train editors in a particular area have typically resulted from misinterpreting Wikipedia rules. "Wikipedia needs people to edit..." and "pseudoscience" must be well substantiated before it can be added to an article. Skeptics also have edits removed when not well cited. Wikipedia is too important to be vandalized... it is too important for us to ignore."{{R|"Farley 2014"}}{{R|Episode438}}{{R|statistics}}{{R|cheer}}{{R|Deepak1}}{{R|Creepy}}

In February, 2015, in an article for ''[[Skeptic (U.S. magazine)|Skeptic]]'' titled ''Considering a Complaint About Skeptical Tactics'', [[Daniel Loxton]] examined the controversy regarding Gerbic's various [[sting operations]], chronicling the opinions of [[pseudoscience|pseudoscience advocates]] as well as people in the [[skeptical movement]].{{R|"Daniel Loxton"}} This was the first of a series of articles in which Loxton examined the larger questions brought to the forefront by Gerbic's undercover sting activities, namely: "Should false claims in the paranormal realm be identified and the truth about them revealed? And, if so, what methods may be justifiably used to accomplish that end?"{{R|Gotcha}}

Reacting to Operation Pizza Roll, Thomas John criticized Gerbic's methodology: "For Susan to come to a reading and get a two-minute reading and say, well, 'I made a fake post about my dog, Buddy, and my father who died,' it's really not any sort of scientific testing of psychic powers. First off, someone will have to be a scientist to do a scientific experiment, not someone who used to be a photographer at Sears."{{R|secret}}

== Awards and honors==
* "In the Trenches" award at the 2012 [[Skeptic's Toolbox]]{{R|SkepticalConnections}}
* "James Randi Award for Skepticism in the Public Interest" at The Amaz!ng Meeting 2013{{R|RandiAward}}
* 2017 Award from [[James Randi Educational Foundation]] (shared with "her team of 'guerrilla skeptics'"){{R|2017Award}}
* Appointed [[fellow]] of the [[Center For Inquiry]], February 2018.{{R|csifellow}}
{|
|[[File:JREFGerbicTAMaward.jpg|thumb|Gerbic, flanked by [[D. J. Grothe|Grothe]] (left) and [[James Randi|Randi]] (right), receives the James Randi Award for Skepticism in the Public Interest at TAM 2013.]]
|[[File:James Randi on JREF Gerbic prize 2017.webm|thumb|James Randi announces Susan Gerbic has won the JREF prize for 2017.]]
|}

== Personal life ==
Gerbic's father died of cancer in 1989.

In 2013, Gerbic announced she had breast cancer. She completed twenty weeks of [[chemotherapy]] for stage II cancer in December 2013, and completed 33 radiation treatments in March 2014.{{R|skepticzone}}


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 105: Line 71:


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
{{Reflist|26em}}


== Further reading ==
<ref name=secret>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/26/magazine/psychics-skeptics-facebook.html|title=Inside the Secret Sting Operations to Expose Celebrity Psychics|last=Hitt|first=Jack|date=February 26, 2019|website=New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226133658/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/26/magazine/psychics-skeptics-facebook.html|archive-date=February 26, 2019|url-status=live|access-date=February 26, 2019}}</ref>

<ref name=californian>{{cite news|last=Nordstrand|first=Dave|title=Staying on the job during cancer treatment|url=http://www.thecalifornian.com/story/life/2014/07/05/staying-job-cancer-treatment/12202333/|work=The Californian|publisher=Gannett|date=July 5, 2014|department=Life|location=Salinas, California|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830002956/http://www.thecalifornian.com/story/life/2014/07/05/staying-job-cancer-treatment/12202333/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=|archive-date=August 30, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name=mcsmeetup>{{cite web|url=http://www.meetup.com/Monterey-County-Skeptics/|title=Monterey County Skeptics|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830012113/http://www.meetup.com/Monterey-County-Skeptics/|archive-date=August 30, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name=csicop395>{{cite journal|title=Is Wikipedia a Conspiracy? Common Myths Explained|url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/is_wikipedia_a_conspiracy_common_myths_explained|journal=[[Skeptical Inquirer]]|publisher=[[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]]|first=Susan|last=Gerbic|date=September 2015|series=39|volume=5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011171044/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/is_wikipedia_a_conspiracy_common_myths_explained|archive-date=October 11, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=February 28, 2017}}</ref>

<ref name = Articles>{{cite web|title=Articles by Susan Gerbic|url=http://www.csicop.org/author/susan_gerbic|work=[[Skeptical Inquirer]]|publisher=[[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830005208/http://www.csicop.org/author/susan_gerbic|archive-date=August 30, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=August 29, 2015}},</ref>

<ref name=csifellow>{{Cite web|url=http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/cause_effect_99/|title=Center for Inquiry News: Cause & Effect: The CFI Newsletter - No. 99|website=www.centerforinquiry.net|language=en|access-date=2018-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208134003/http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/cause_effect_99/|archive-date=8 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name=GVs>{{Cite web|title = Grief Vampires Don't Come Out Only at Night|url = http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/grief_vampires_dont_come_out_only_at_night|date = January 20, 2016|website = www.csicop.org|access-date = 2016-02-04|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160731120101/http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/grief_vampires_dont_come_out_only_at_night|archive-date = July 31, 2016|df = mdy-all}}</ref>

<ref name="2nd bday">{{cite AV media|last=Gerbic|first=Susan|title=GSoW 2nd Bday video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efU-2yw0U58|work=[[YouTube]]|date=June 8, 2013|type=Motion picture|access-date=August 29, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312230038/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efU-2yw0U58|archive-date=March 12, 2016|df=mdy-all}}{{plays audio}}</ref>

<ref name = Radford>{{cite journal|last1=Radford|first1=Ben|author-link=Benjamin Radford|title=Skepticism One Wikipage at a Time: Talking with Wikiskeptic Susan Gerbic-Forsyth|journal=[[Skeptical Inquirer]]|date=March 2012|volume=36|issue=2|pages=32–33|url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/2012/03/skepticism_one_wikipage_at_a_time_talking_with_wikiskeptic_susan_gerbic_forsyth/|access-date=January 19, 2020|url-access=subscription|issn=0194-6730|oclc=779564757|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

<ref name=skeptchal>{{Cite podcast|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUCwKG1n9zc|title=Skeptically Challenged 2014/06/19|last1=Balch|first1=Ross|work=Skeptically Challenged|date=June 19, 2014|access-date=August 29, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309230832/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUCwKG1n9zc|archive-date=March 9, 2016|df=mdy-all}}{{plays audio}}</ref>

<ref name = Pinter>{{cite podcast|title=Susan Gerbic/Lei Pinter/Nix Dorf|url=http://skepticallyyours.net/episode-74/|date=July 10, 2014|publisher=Skeptically Yours|first1=Emery|last1=Emery|author-link1=Emery Emery|first2=Heather|last2=Henderson|author-link2=Heather Henderson|access-date=August 29, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205110705/http://skepticallyyours.net/episode-74/|archive-date=February 5, 2016|df=mdy-all}}{{plays audio}}</ref>

<ref name = Ten>{{cite web | url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/ten_distinguished_scientists_and_scholars_named_fellows_of_committee_for_sk | title=Ten Distinguished Scientists and Scholars Named Fellows of Committee for Skeptical Inquiry | publisher=Center for Inquiry | work=Skeptical Inquirer | access-date=13 October 2015 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016122711/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/ten_distinguished_scientists_and_scholars_named_fellows_of_committee_for_sk | archive-date=October 16, 2015 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

<ref name = Happy>{{cite web|url=https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2018/08/23/the-enthusiastic-life-of-a-happy-skeptic/|title=The enthusiastic life of a happy skeptic|last1=Hale|first1=Mike|website=Voices of Monterey Bay|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829023341/https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2018/08/23/the-enthusiastic-life-of-a-happy-skeptic/|archive-date=29 August 2018|url-status=live|access-date=29 August 2018}}</ref>

<ref name=TAM9>{{cite AV media|title=TAM 9 Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpUd9uwVjqA|type=Motion picture|first1=Susan|last1=Gerbic|access-date=August 29, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309052222/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpUd9uwVjqA|archive-date=March 9, 2016|df=mdy-all}}{{plays audio}}</ref>

<ref name=prism>{{Cite podcast|url=http://www.prismpodcast.com/the-prism-podcast-episode-11/|title=Episode 11|last1=Luchtefeld|first1=Jason|last2=Ritchey|first2=Grant|work=The Prism Podcast|publisher=The Prism|date=December 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903024652/http://www.prismpodcast.com/the-prism-podcast-episode-11/|archive-date=September 3, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="Wikapediatrican CSICOP">{{cite web|last1=Gerbic|first1=Susan|title=Wikapediatrician Susan Gerbic discusses her Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia project|url=http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/wikapediatrician_susan_gerbic_discusses_her_guerrilla_skepticism_on_wikiped|work=[[Skeptical Inquirer]]|publisher=[[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]]|date=March 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830023844/http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/wikapediatrician_susan_gerbic_discusses_her_guerrilla_skepticism_on_wikiped|archive-date=August 30, 2015 |url-status=live|access-date=January 13, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name=Third>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3avtYFkvsJA|title=Third Bday GSoW|last1=Gerbic|first1=Susan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705214835/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3avtYFkvsJA|archive-date=July 5, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=January 17, 2015|df=mdy-all}}{{plays audio}}</ref>

<ref name=tamers>{{cite AV media|last1=Guttormson|first1=Joel|title=Meet the Amazing TAMers: Susan Gerbic|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdV2WD2P3dE|publisher=[[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science]]|date=November 5, 2013|type=Motion picture|access-date=August 29, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307082521/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdV2WD2P3dE|archive-date=March 7, 2016|df=mdy-all}}{{plays audio}}</ref>

<ref name=skepticzone>{{cite web|url=http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-274-17-jan-2014|title=The Skeptic Zone #274 - 17.Jan.2014|last1=Saunders|first1=Richard|author-link1=Richard Saunders (skeptic)|date=January 17, 2014|work=[[The Skeptic Zone]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830030638/http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-274-17-jan-2014|archive-date=August 30, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name=messianicdrew>{{cite web|url=http://messianicdrew.blogspot.com/2014/01/what-christians-can-learn-from-skeptics.html|title=What Christians Can Learn From Skeptics: Editing Wikipedia|author=Drew|date=January 13, 2014|work=The Messianic Drew|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830025314/http://messianicdrew.blogspot.com/2014/01/what-christians-can-learn-from-skeptics.html|archive-date=August 30, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="Data Skeptic">{{cite web|last1=Polich|first1=Kyle|title=Guerilla Skepticism on Wikipedia with Susan Gerbic|url=http://dataskeptic.com/epnotes/ep012.php|work=Data Skeptic|access-date=August 29, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023233738/http://dataskeptic.com/epnotes/ep012.php|archive-date=October 23, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

<ref name = escepticos>{{cite web|title=Vídeo "Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia" - Susan Gerbic en Escépticos en el Pub Madrid|url=http://www.escepticos.es/node/5386|website=Escepticos.es|publisher=Escepticos|access-date=12 October 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705214834/http://www.escepticos.es/node/5386|archive-date=July 5, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

<ref name = theesp>{{cite web|title=Episode #92|url=http://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/episode_92.html|website=theesp.eu|publisher=The European Skeptics Podcast|access-date=6 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006175842/http://theesp.eu/podcast_archive/episode_92.html|archive-date=6 October 2017|quote=András is now on the road with Susan Gerbic, Mark Edward and Liubomir Baburov, networking across Europe with the 'About Time Tour'.}}</ref>

<ref name = 2017Schedule>{{cite web|title=Schedule|url=https://new.centerforinquiry.net/conferences/csicon/schedule.html|website=New.centerforinquiry.net|publisher=CFI|access-date=9 February 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171121080104/https://new.centerforinquiry.net/conferences/csicon/schedule.html|archive-date=November 21, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

<ref name=BTV>{{cite web|last1=Ayvaz|first1=Hulia |title=Can We Trust Wikipedia?|url=http://www.bloombergtv.bg/v-razvitie/2017-10-06/mozhem-li-da-se-doverim-na-wikipedia|website=Bloombergtv.bg|publisher=Bloomberg TV|access-date=6 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006161355/http://www.bloombergtv.bg/v-razvitie/2017-10-06/mozhem-li-da-se-doverim-na-wikipedia|archive-date=6 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name = Matsakis>{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/story/guerrilla-wikipedia-editors-who-combat-conspiracy-theories/|title=The 'Guerrilla' Wikipedia Editors Who Combat Conspiracy Theories|last=Matsakis|first=Louise|date=July 25, 2018|website=wired.com|publisher=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|access-date=July 25, 2018 }}</ref>

<ref name = TenTricks>{{cite web|last1=Gerbic|first1=Susan|title=Ten Tricks of the Psychics I Bet You Didn't Know|url=https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/ten_tricks_of_the_psychics_i_bet_you_didnrsquot_know|website=CSI|publisher=Committee for Skeptical Inquiry|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324101552/https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/ten_tricks_of_the_psychics_i_bet_you_didnrsquot_know|archive-date=24 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Coyne 2014">{{cite news|last=Coyne|first=Jerry|author-link=Jerry Coyne|title=Pseudoscientist Rupert Sheldrake Is Not Being Persecuted, And Is Not Like Galileo|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/115533/rupert-sheldrake-fools-bbc-deepak-chopra|work=[[The New Republic]]|date=November 8, 2013|access-date=September 2, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911115512/http://www.newrepublic.com/article/115533/rupert-sheldrake-fools-bbc-deepak-chopra|archive-date=September 11, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

<ref name="Farley 2014">{{cite web|last=Farley|first=Tim|author-link=Tim Farley|title=The right way and the wrong way to file skeptic complaints|url=https://skeptools.wordpress.com/2013/10/12/right-wrong-complaints-craigslist-sheldrake-wikipedia/|date=October 12, 2013|work=SkepTools|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150902210228/https://skeptools.wordpress.com/2013/10/12/right-wrong-complaints-craigslist-sheldrake-wikipedia/|archive-date=September 2, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=July 24, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name = Episode438>{{cite web|title=SGU Episode 438|url=http://www.theskepticsguide.org/podcast/sgu/438|work=[[The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe]]|first=Tim|last=Farley| author-link=Tim Farley|date=December 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903022149/http://www.theskepticsguide.org/podcast/sgu/438|archive-date=September 3, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=September 2, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name = statistics>{{cite web|last=Farley|first=Tim| author-link=Tim Farley|title=When you're not here to create an encyclopedia, your Wikipedia statistics show it|url=https://skeptools.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/nothere-wikipedia-craig-weiler-rome-viharo-tumbleman-rupert-sheldrake/|work=SkepTools|date=April 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903022657/https://skeptools.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/nothere-wikipedia-craig-weiler-rome-viharo-tumbleman-rupert-sheldrake/|archive-date=September 3, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=September 2, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name = cheer>{{cite web|last=Farley|first=Tim| author-link=Tim Farley|title=Wikipedia founder responds to pro-alt-med petition; skeptics cheer|url=https://skeptools.wordpress.com/2014/03/25/wikipedia-jimmy-wales-responds-change-org-alt-med-alternative-medicine-cam/|date=March 25, 2014|work=SkepTools|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903022826/https://skeptools.wordpress.com/2014/03/25/wikipedia-jimmy-wales-responds-change-org-alt-med-alternative-medicine-cam/|archive-date=September 3, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=September 2, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name = Deepak1>{{cite web|last=Farley|first=Tim| author-link=Tim Farley|title=Quantum variations in Wikipedia rules – Deepak Chopra and conflict of interest|url=https://skeptools.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/quantum-wikipedia-rules-deepak-chopra-coi-conflict-interest/|work=SkepTools|date=December 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924052930/https://skeptools.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/quantum-wikipedia-rules-deepak-chopra-coi-conflict-interest/|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=February 28, 2017}}</ref>

<ref name = Creepy>{{cite web|last=Gage|first=Greg|title=A Creepy Neuro-Revolution!|url=http://www.skepticality.com/creepy-neuro-revolution/|work=[[Skepticality]]|publisher=[[The Skeptics Society]]|date=October 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903023335/http://www.skepticality.com/creepy-neuro-revolution/|archive-date=September 3, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=September 2, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="Daniel Loxton">{{cite web|last1=Loxton|first1=Daniel|author-link=Daniel Loxton|title=Considering a Complaint About Skeptical Tactics|url=http://www.skeptic.com/insight/considering-a-complaint-about-skeptical-tactics/|website=Skeptic.com|publisher=Skeptic Magazine|access-date=13 July 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421214950/https://www.skeptic.com/insight/considering-a-complaint-about-skeptical-tactics/|archive-date=April 21, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

<ref name = Gotcha>{{cite web|last1=Loxton|first1=Daniel|author-link1=Daniel Loxton|title=Gotcha! Thinking About Skeptical "Stings"|url=http://www.skeptic.com/insight/gotcha-thinking-about-skeptical-stings/|website=Skeptic.com|publisher=Skeptic Magazine|access-date=13 July 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417121638/http://www.skeptic.com/insight/gotcha-thinking-about-skeptical-stings/|archive-date=April 17, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

<ref name="CFI Summit">{{cite journal|last1=Gerbic|first1=Susan|title=CFI Summit: Impressions|url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/susan-gerbic-reports-on-the-2014-skeptics-toolbox/|journal=[[Skeptical Inquirer]]|publisher=[[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]]|date=March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830043832/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/cfi_summit_impressions/|archive-date=August 30, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=August 30, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name=sgr14st>{{cite journal|last1=Gerbic|first1=Susan|title=Susan Gerbic Reports on the 2014 Skeptics Toolbox|url=http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/susan_gerbic_reports_on_the_2014_skeptics_toolbox/|journal=[[Skeptical Inquirer]]|publisher=[[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]]|date=November 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830044329/http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/susan_gerbic_reports_on_the_2014_skeptics_toolbox/|archive-date=August 30, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=August 30, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name = skeptics-convention>{{cite web|title=2015 Skeptics Convention – Schmidt, Gerbic, Nickell|url=http://www.skeptics.com.au/2015/03/01/2015-skeptics-convention-schmidt-gerbic-nickell/|publisher=Australian Skeptics Inc.|access-date=17 October 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229035921/http://www.skeptics.com.au/2015/03/01/2015-skeptics-convention-schmidt-gerbic-nickell/|archive-date=February 29, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

<ref name = InterviewArticles>{{cite web|title=Special Articles - CSICon|url=https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/archive/category/csicon|website=Csicop.org|publisher=CFI|access-date=19 November 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119144556/https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/archive/category/csicon|archive-date=19 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name=SkepticalConnections>{{cite web|url=https://skepticalconnections.wordpress.com/susan-gerbic/|title=Susan Gerbic|work=Skeptical Connections|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502093123/http://skepticalconnections.wordpress.com/susan-gerbic/|archive-date=May 2, 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name = RandiAward>{{cite web|url=http://www.skepreview.com/2014/03/a-jam-at-tam.html|title=A JAM AT TAM|author=Howard "Nigel St. Whitehall"|work=The Skeptical Review|date=March 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830044743/http://www.skepreview.com/2014/03/a-jam-at-tam.html|archive-date=August 30, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=August 30, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name = 2017Award>{{cite web|title=2017 JREF Award|url=https://web.randi.org/home/2017-jref-award|website=James Randi Educational Foundation|access-date=27 March 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328102358/https://web.randi.org/home/2017-jref-award|archive-date=March 28, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

<ref name = GSOW1>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cpOaVHfaLA|title=Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia &#124; Susan Gerbic|access-date=7 July 2019}}</ref>

<ref name=Lancaster>{{cite web |last1=Gerbic |first1=Susan |title=Robert S. Lancaster: February 11, 1958 – September 7, 2019 |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/robert-s-lancaster-february-11-1958-september-7-2019/ |website=Skepticalinquirer.org |publisher=CFI |access-date=11 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911192011/https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/robert-s-lancaster-february-11-1958-september-7-2019/|url-status=live|archive-date=11 September 2019 |date=11 September 2019}}</ref>

<ref name=SZ3>{{cite web |last1=Saunders |first1=Richard|author-link1=Richard Saunders (skeptic) |title=The Skeptic Zone Podcast #561 |url=http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-561-21july2019 |website=The Skeptic Zone Podcast |publisher=The Skeptic Zone Podcast |access-date=17 November 2019}}</ref>

}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Susan Gerbic}}
{{Commons category|Susan Gerbic}}
* [http://guerrillaskepticismonwikipedia.blogspot.com/ Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia blog]
* [http://guerrillaskepticismonwikipedia.blogspot.com/ Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia blog]
* [https://skepticalinquirer.org/authors/susan-gerbic/ "Author: Susan Gerbic"]. ''Skeptical Inquirer''.


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Revision as of 00:38, 7 April 2021

Susan Gerbic
Head shot of Gerbic
Gerbic in April 2015
Born1962
Salinas, California
NationalityAmerican
EducationBA Social & Behavioral Studies (2002)
Alma materCalifornia State University, Monterey Bay
OccupationStudio photographer
EmployerLifetouch Portrait Studios (1982–2016)
Known forScientific skepticism
Susan Gerbic's voice
Recorded in May 2015
Websiteabouttimeproject.wordpress.com

Susan Gerbic (born 1962) is an American studio photographer who became known as a scientific skepticism activist, mostly for exposing people claiming to be mediums.[1][2][3] A columnist for Skeptical Inquirer,[4] she is the co-founder of Monterey County Skeptics[5] and a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.[6]

Early life and education

The youngest of three children, Gerbic was raised as a Southern Baptist in Salinas, California.[7] Her father was born in 1918 in Euclid, Ohio, to parents from Slovenia; he served during World War II and after the war went to live in Salinas.[8] Gerbic attended Freemont Elementary, El Sausal Junior High School,[9] and Alisal High School in Salinas, graduating in 1980.[1] She became an atheist in her junior year. After high school, she studied at Hartnell College, also in Salinas,[7] obtaining AAs in general studies in 1993 and history in 1998,[9] while working and raising two sons. In 2002, she was awarded a BA in Social & Behavioral Studies by California State University, Monterey Bay.[7]

Career and activism

Photography

Gerbic worked at Lifetouch, a portrait studio in JC Penney in the Northridge Mall in Salinas, from 1982[1] for 34 years, including as manager.[7] In May 2015, she said she was taking around 70,000 professional photographs of people, mostly children, every year, and about another 5,000 photographs with her own camera.[9] She retired in 2016 when the studio closed.[7]

Guerrilla Skeptics

Gerbic, with D. J. Grothe (left) and James Randi (right), receives the James Randi Award for Skepticism in the Public Interest at The Amazing Meeting, July 2013.

Gerbic first read Skeptical Inquirer when she was 33,[7] and in 2000, she attended the Skeptic's Toolbox workshop in Eugene, Oregon.[10] In 2009, she went to Mexico on an "Amazing Adventure" cruise organized by the Canadian stage magician and skeptic James Randi; according to the New York Times, Randi used a MacArthur grant to fund "annual ship cruises filled with skeptics".[3]

Much of Gerbic's activism has consisted of organizing sting operations against people claiming to be mediums. She and a group of volunteers calling themselves "Guerrilla Skeptics" would set up fake Facebook profiles, then visit mediums claiming to be receiving messages from the subjects of the profiles. Gerbic's team would record the session and post the evidence online.[3]

In 2010, Gerbic founded "Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia" (GSoW),[11] a group of editors who create and improve Wikipedia articles that reflect scientific skepticism.[7][12] The New York Times Magazine reported in February 2019, in an interview with Gerbic, that GSoW had 144 editors who had worked on nearly 900 Wikipedia pages.[3] Gerbic's work with GSoW led to her becoming a consultant for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI),[13] and in February 2018, they appointed her as a fellow.[6]

Conferences

In October 2015, Gerbic conducted a series of workshops in Australia and spoke at the Australian Skeptics' Convention. [14] To promote CSICon, she interviewed scheduled speakers in 2016 and 2017 in advance of the conferences, including James Alcock, Taner Edis, Kevin Folta, Craig Foster, Harriet Hall, Britt Hermes, George Hrab, Maria Konnikova, and Richard Saunders.[15] In September and October 2017, she lectured in several European countries on her "About Time Tour";[16][8] in October, she was a guest on Bloomberg TV Bulgaria.[17] She spoke about GSoW at CSICon in Las Vegas that year.[18] At the Australian Skeptic's Convention in December 2019, she spoke about her interactions with mediums, including Thomas John.[19]

Awards and honors

Personal life

Gerbic in December 2013

Gerbic married Robert Forsyth in 1983.[22] The couple had two sons, and the marriage ended in 2002. As of August 2018, Gerbic was in a relationship with the mentalist Mark Edward.[7] They met in 2009 on one of James Randi's skeptics' cruises to Mexico; Edward was working on the ship as part of the entertainment.[3]

In 2013, Gerbic discovered she had breast cancer after she and a colleague at Lifetouch studios scheduled mammograms in response to Angelina Jolie undergoing a preventive mastectomy.[23] By December that year, Gerbic had completed 20 weeks of chemotherapy for stage II cancer and, by March 2014, 33 radiation treatments.[24] Wearing a series of funny hats to hide her hair loss, she carried on working throughout the treatment, and her follow-up mammogram was clear. She said the experience had made her tougher.[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Nordstrand, Dave (July 5, 2014). "Staying on the job during cancer treatment". The Salinas Californian. Archived from the original on August 30, 2015.
  2. ^ Matsakis, Louise (July 25, 2018). "The 'Guerrilla' Wikipedia Editors Who Combat Conspiracy Theories". Wired. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e Hitt, Jack (February 26, 2019). "Inside the Secret Sting Operations to Expose Celebrity Psychics". The New York Times Magazine. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019.
  4. ^ "Author: Susan Gerbic". Skeptical Inquirer.
  5. ^ "Monterey County Skeptics". meetup.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2015.
    Taylor, Dennis L. (January 3, 2015). "Skeptics take on God, psychics, even science". Monterey Herald. Archived from the original on June 11, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "Committee for Skeptical Inquiry Elects Six New Fellows". Center for Inquiry. February 7, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Hale, Mike (August 23, 2018). "The enthusiastic life of a happy skeptic". Voices of Monterey Bay. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Gerbic, Susan (March 2, 2018). "Skeptical Adventures in Europe, Part 5". Skeptical Inquirer.
  9. ^ a b c School details. Susan Gerbic Voice.ogg.
  10. ^ Radford, Ben (March 2012). "Skepticism One Wikipage at a Time: Talking with Wikiskeptic Susan Gerbic-Forsyth". Skeptical Inquirer. 36 (2): 32–33. Archived from the original on January 19, 2020.
  11. ^ Gerbic, Susan (March 8, 2015). "Wikapediatrician Susan Gerbic discusses her Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia project". Skeptical Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 30, 2015.
  12. ^ Plait, Phil (May 23, 2013). "'Bad Astronomy' on the Front Page of Wikipedia Today. Literally". Slate.
  13. ^ "Ten Distinguished Scientists and Scholars Named Fellows of Committee for Skeptical Inquiry". Skeptical Inquirer. 39 (6). 2015. Archived from the original on October 16, 2015.
  14. ^ Gerbic, Susan (January 11, 2016). "The Wikipediatrician's Whirlwind Australian Tour". Skeptical Inquirer.

    "2015 Skeptics Convention – Schmidt, Gerbic, Nickell". Australian Skeptics Inc. March 1, 2015. Archived from the original on February 29, 2016.

  15. ^ "Special Articles – CSICon". The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Archived from the original on November 19, 2017.
  16. ^ Gerbic, Susan (February 8, 2018). "Skeptical Adventures in Europe, Part 1". Skeptical Inquirer.
    Gerbic, Susan (February 9, 2018). "Skeptical Adventures in Europe, Part 2". Skeptical Inquirer.
    Gerbic, Susan (February 16, 2018). "Skeptical Adventures in Europe, Part 3". Skeptical Inquirer.

    Gerbic, Susan (February 20, 2018). "Skeptical Adventures in Europe, Part 4". Skeptical Inquirer.

  17. ^ Ayvaz, Hulia (October 6, 2017). "Can We Trust Wikipedia?". Bloomberg TV Bulgaria. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017.
  18. ^ "Schedule". CSICon. Archived from the original on November 21, 2017.
  19. ^ "Speaker Schedule". Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  20. ^ a b "The Amaz!ng Meeting 2015: Susan Gerbic". TAM13.
  21. ^ "2017 JREF Award". James Randi Educational Foundation. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018.
  22. ^ "Marriages". The Californian. 3 November 1983, p. 15.
  23. ^ a b Norstrand, Dave (July 5, 2014). "Working during cancer treatments". The Californian, pp. 1C, 8C.
  24. ^ Saunders, Richard (January 17, 2014). "An interview with Susan Gerbic". The Skeptic Zone podcast. Archived from the original on August 30, 2015.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Susan Gerbic.
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